Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) in Colombia: an alternative for agro-environmental development in the agricultural sector

Abstract

The Azadirachta indica tree, or neem tree, is a tree species that has surprised readers in recent years with the quantity of secondary metabolites it produces, which could be very useful for pest control. By studying various parts of the plant, compounds derived from these natural metabolites have been obtained, offering different alternatives to consumers. The objective of this review was to identify alternative biotechnological uses of Azadirachta indica compounds for economically important crops in Colombia. Along these lines, we find a variety of uses in the agricultural sector to control different groups of insects from the Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, and Diptera orders, as well as potential ornamental and fungicidal uses. We place its use in perspective for the development of Colombian agriculture.